Screening device



. A. A. NEWNHAM SCREENING DEYIICE Filed 001:. 13. 1924 Tifil.

gmmtoc ALFRED A/VEVNHAM Patented Dec. 8, 1925.

UNITED STATES ALFRED A. NEWNHAM, OF PASADENA, CALIFORNIA.

SCREENING DEVICE.

Application filed October 18, 1924. Serial No. 744,416.

T all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, ALFRED A. NEWNHAM, a citizen of the United States of America, and a resident of Pasadena, in the county of Los Angeles and State of California, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Screening Devices, of which the following is a specification.

My invention relates to screening devices for interior ventilating openings in the walls of buildings, and a purpose of my invention is the provision of an extremely simple, inexpensive and durable screening device which can be readily applied to and securely held in ventilating openings without the necessity of nailing, screwing or in any like manner fastening the device in or about the opening.

It is also a purpose of my invention to provide a screening device which includes securing means for retaining the device within a ventilating opening, such means being automatically adjustable to accommodate itself toopenings of different size, thus rendering the device adaptable to ventilating openings which vary in size to a Wide degree.

I will describe only one form of screening device embodying my invention and will then point out the novel features thereof in claims.

In the accompanying drawings,

Figure 1 is a view showing in vertical section one form of screening device embodying my invention in applied position with respect to the ventilating opening;

Figure 2 is a view similar to Figure'l taken on the line 2- 2 thereof;

Figure 3 is a view showing the device in front elevation and in applied position;

Figure 4 is a perspective View of the frame embodied in the screening device shown in the preceding views;

Figure 5 is a perspective view showingthe cross member and spring embodied in the screening device shown in Figures 1 to 3.

Referring specifically to the drawings, in which similar reference characters refer to Similar parts, my invention, in its present embodiment, comprises a frame designated generally at F formed of metal or other suit able material and including preferably a square body formed with an opening 16 and having its marginal edges split as indicated by 17 and bent to one side of the body to form flanges 18 which are adapted to co operate with the body in securing a screen 19 in spanning relation to the opening 16. A member comprising a strip or bar 20 of metal or other suitable material is arranged to extend diametrically of the opening 16 so that its ends are disposed between certain of the flanges 18 and the body 15, so as to securely hold the strip in fixed position. The ends of the strip 20 may be riveted or soldered to fixedly secure the strip against movement, as will be understood.

As shown in Figure 5, the strip 20 is provided with a flange 21 and at the junction of the strip and flange a slot 22 is formed through which is extended a leaf spring 23 normally arched, as shown, and capable of being flexed to permit its insertion within the ventilating opening. The spring is secured to the strip 20 by bending the flange 21 so as to overlie the strip and then extending a rivet or other suitable fastening member 24 through the flange, strip and spring,

as will be understood.

In practice, the screening device is adapted to be applied to a ventilating opening designated at 25 in Figures 1, 2 and 3, by flexing or contracting the spring 23 so that it can be inserted into the opening when it is re leased and thus allowed to expand so that its ends engage the Walls of the opening with suflicient pressure to securely maintain the frame contiguous to the wall and the screen in spanning relation to the opening.

By virtue of the flexibility of the spring, it will be clear that it Will automatically expand into engagement with the wall of the opening, and that it can be applied to open ings of various diameters and securely hold the screen in spanning relation to the openlng.

Although I have herein shown and described only one form of screening device embodying my invention, it will be understoodthat various changes and modifications may be made without departing from the spirit of the invention and the spirit and scope of the appended claims.

I claim as my invention:

1. A screening device comprising-a frame having an opening therein, a screen in spanning relation to the opening, flanges on the frame embracing the screen for securing the latter in spanning relation to the opening, a strip extending across the opening and engaged by said flanges, said strip being slotted, a flange on the strip and an arched leaf spring extending through the slot and between the strip. and flange, said flange being folded over the leaf spring and strip and se- 6 cured thereto.

2. A screening device comprising a frame having an opening therein, a screen in spanning relation to the opening and secured to the frame, a slotted strip extending across the opening and secured to the frame, a flange on the strip, and a leaf spring extending from the slot and between the strip and flange with the flange folded on the spring and strip and secured thereto.

ALFRED A. NEWN HAM. 

